I own: Some beautiful flowers and a Build-A-Bear Monkey from my students.

I don't own : Twilight (any of it) or the music I make reference to (well, I do have it on iTunes and some on CDs, but I don't think that's what they're talking about…)

EPOV (Edward)

If only we lived outside of myths and fairytales…

I would have agreed with Sue Clearwater long ago, twenty years ago actually. But now... Never would I trade the life I was thrilled to be living with Bella and our daughter and our family. This actuality was more than I could ever hope to have.

But watching Bella gaze back at her former home with her father so close as we escaped through the forest made me want for it again, for her sake.

I swore I heard her sob once as she skirted in front of me to the car. She swept her hair back over one shoulder and leaned against the Volvo taking heavy, deep breaths. I approached her and pulled her into my side to which she molded herself into. "Bella." I had no idea what I was intending to speak so I simply closed my mouth and held her tighter.

She nodded into my chest and sighed before finally speaking again. "Thank you."

I laughed, not out of humor, but confusion. "For what, love?"

"For being you, for being here with me." I nodded, stroking her hair.

"Of course, I love you. I'm always with you." She nodded and pulled herself away from my grasp.

"One more stop," she whispered as she slipped into the driver's side of the Volvo.

We hadn't driven far, but it seemed that way since we were silent and she had obeyed the traffic laws with an unhealthily obsession. Must be the return to Forks…

She pulled up to a white two-story house, maybe four bedrooms if the owners were fond of small living quarters. The landscaping with sparse and easily maintained because of that fact. Bella turned off the car and handed me the keys, she then pulled her legs up into her chest and blankly stared at the house's one lit window in the left, top story.

I had a good idea of whose house we were at, and when I spotted the name on the mailbox, Cheney, I was positive where we were. Still, I asked. "Bella, who are we here to see?"

"Angela." The answer was exactly as I expected, quiet, yet bold. She wanted to actually talk to Angela.

"How did you know this is where she lived?"

Bella didn't hesitate in answering. "I always kept tabs on her just in case she ever needed my help. She took care of me when no one… and she cared so much for Renesmee. If she ever needed me, I wanted to be able to return the favor." Bella turned to face me, giving me a sad smile. "I didn't earn her friendship, but she gave it anyways."

I nodded, although I wanted to dispute the fact that she didn't deserve a friend such as Angela. She smiled, a bit more brightly and continued. "She married Ben two years after high school and a year later, they had their first child, Noah. Soon after, they had Jeffery and then Isabel." I smiled, sure that the name was tribute to Bella in some way. "They moved into this house about… ten and a half years ago. Angela's an assistant attorney and Ben's in the computer engineering field, mainly dealing with software development."

Bella quirked an eyebrow as I chuckled under my breath, but of course, she heard it. "Have something to say?" She asked, not entirely pleased.

"No, I was merely thinking that you could possibly be the most caring…" I fumbled for a word that wouldn't offend, but she beat me to the punch.

"Stalker?" She smiled at me as I sheepishly nodded my head. "Thanks, Edward. That's such a sweet thing to say about the person you claim to love more than anything."

I stared at her fingers as I grasped them tightly. "It speaks volumes about how far we've come, don't you think?" She nodded, smiling without fear of me fleeing. "So…" I paused, waiting for her eyes to meet mine. When they finally did, I continued. "How do you want to proceed?"

Now, she hesitates.

I watched her war with herself. Finally she spoke. "She knows that something was… different about Renesmee… and us. She never asked for an explanation and I don't intend to give one, but…"

I continued where she trailed off. "But, you want to tell her how much it meant to you, how much she helped you. In person." She nodded. "Ben and the kids; they can't know Bella." She nodded, but she looked hopefully up to the window.

I listened to the quiet house. Somewhere there were two children snoring lightly. There was muttering about 'stupid bio homework' from none other than 'ancient Mr. Banner.' The man must be in his early eighties by now, poor Noah…

Listening closely, I also heard Ben's thoughts. He was dreaming about his family… in a video game. It was sweet, in a slightly odd way. Near him, I could hear Angela's thoughts and the occasional "hmmm." She was studying a case file, looking for loopholes for her supervisor. It would have been done earlier, but she had been helping Isabel pick out an outfit for school the next day. Apparently picture day was a huge deal in a 13 year old's life. I sighed thinking about Renesmee.

"Angela and Noah are the only ones awake. Now's the best time, otherwise you'll have to wake her." She nodded, but didn't make an effort to move. "Bella?"

Her eyes focused back to mine. "Yeah." Neither a statement nor a question according to her tone.

I kissed Bella's knuckles, before opening the car door for myself. "I'll be back. I actually have some things I'd like to say to Angela as well."

I sighed, looking at my watch, noting the lateness of our visit. Slowly I knocked once, twice.

"Really, one in the morning someone knocks…" Angela's thoughts were suspicious, but not threatened. I smiled remembering she is a Forks native through and through. Noah didn't even acknowledge the sound in the slightest.

Angela came down the stairs, slowly, finally starting to feel uneasy about answering her front door at one in the morning without her husband at her side. I turned to see how Bella was doing, but her eyes went past me straight to the door being opened.

"Wow." It was hushed, quiet in volume, but loud in acknowledgement. Her thoughts were rushed and I nearly couldn't keep up with the theories she was confirming and denying with the discovery that I had not aged over the last twenty years.

"Angela." She quickly regained her composure and shut the door as she came outside to face me.

"It's really you." Her thoughts were more verbal, more astounding, and more… expletive. "Bella, she had your… you know right? You must know…" I nodded, smiling slightly.

"That's why we're here. I wanted to thank you, Angela. You have… no idea the gratitude I feel for what you did for them. I could have lost them and not even known it. I can't put into words what it means to me. If you ever need anything, I will find a way to help you."

She smiled, before speaking. "I did it because Bella needed me and she's my friend, or was." She whispered the last words. "I would do it all over again."

With those words, the memories started. I saw the whole thing through Angela's human eyes; the scream from Bella, the office set up for the birth, the syringes which were completely confusing to her, the blank face from Bella when the pain caused her to pass out, the shot into her leg, the shock from Bella when she realized the venom was injected, the ripping of Bella's stomach, the bloody baby that was my daughter, the helplessness in Bella's eyes begging Angela to leave her and take Renesmee with her.

I stumbled, grasping the pillar on Angela's porch. "You didn't have to do it, thank you so much, Angela." I muttered, still reeling from her memories.

"Like I said, I would do it again, Edward." She paused, looking to the Volvo behind me. "She's with you," she whispered. Bella ran from the car, barely controlling the speed of her approach before hugging Angela tightly, yet softly.

I watched as sobs rocked Bella's body. She chanted a low 'thank you, thank you' in Angela's ear. After several minutes, they pulled apart. "I can't explain everything," Bella spoke.

"You haven't changed, at all."

Bella nodded. "I can't explain that. I would if I could."

"You two are together," Angela smiled, nodding that she understood that explanations couldn't be shared.

"Yes." Bella wrapped her arm that wasn't holding on to Angela around my waist.

"What about Renesmee?" Angela's smile faltered for a second, wondering if this was the bad news part of the conversation.

Bella pulled my wallet from my back pocket, stealing the picture she had given to me and giving it over to Angela. "Wow, she looks so much like how I pictured; a perfect combination." Angela whispered, lightly fingering the photograph. "She's twenty, now, right?"

"Yes, she's wonderful, determined," Bella smiled at the comment.

"I knew that when she was born." Angela nodded. "You all have to leave, don't you?" Both Bella and I nodded. "I'm not surprised. I am glad you finally found each other and that I got to see you again." She held up the photo to give back to Bella. "And her."

Bella hugged Angela again. "Keep it. She's your goddaughter; you need a picture of her." Angela whispered a 'thank you' fighting back tears. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

I reached over Bella, gaining Angela's attention. "I mean it. If you ever need or want anything. All you have to do it ask." She nodded, although I could tell she would never ask for anything. A hefty scholarship for Noah, Jeffery, and Isabel may be some sort of repayment…

I opened the car door for Bella and then sprinted to the other side. "Back to the house?" I questioned.

"No." I turned to face Bella as we drove. "I know I said a week, but… Let's go home."

I smiled, and pulled her hand to my lips to kiss. "Home."

A/N: It's not like they could really get into the vampire history and Angela would never pry. She's incredibly happy with her life, her family. This was the closure both her and Bella needed, and in a way Edward as well.

There is one more chapter left! Wow, I nearly have been at this story for a year and I sincerely loved every review, comment, and PM I received about it. I have felt inspired and motivated. You all made it totally worth it! I hope you all continue on with me with "And I Need You Now."

I plan on finishing this story within the next week or so, hopefully before Eclipse comes out! And then I'll attempt to update AINYN about once a week throughout the summer.

After that, I just want to write more. But my ideas are not there. PM me with requests… storylines or prompts, please!

Thanks so much for those who review. Read, Review and Comment – You know I love it!

-kmwhyte